If you’ve ever heard the saying “you are what you eat,” you know that it is important to fill your body with natural foods full of vitamins and nutrients to keep it healthy. Avocados are delicious and nutritious and provide a variety of benefits for your body. The oils found in avocados are made up of fatty acids, vitamins and essential nutrients with antioxidant qualities that sooth and moisturize the skin.

Here are a few ways you can incorporate avocados and their oil into your diet and beauty routine:

Skincare – Avocados are rich in Vitamin A, which is critical in maintaining and restoring healthy skin. Their antioxidant properties help eliminate the toxins that cause premature aging and wrinkling of the skin. To improve your skin’s complexion, treat yourself to an avocado facial by mashing and applying the avocado to the skin two to four times a week for 10 minutes at a time, and thoroughly rinsing your face with water following each treatment.

Hair conditioning – Create a conditioning mask for your hair by mashing one avocado with an egg and a tablespoon of olive oil and then applying it directly on the scalp for 20 min prior to your regular hair care routine. This mask offers a hydrating effect as well as helps hair regain its shine, elasticity and body.

Sun protection – Applying avocado oil to your skin before heading out into the sun can help to naturally protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun. Avocados are also famous for their anti-inflammatory properties, so if you are looking to alleviate the pain of a sunburn, lather a mashed avocado onto your skin for a quick relief.

Diet benefits –Although 85% of the calories in avocados come from fat, this fat is unusual as it offers numerous health benefits. Packed with healthy monounsaturated fat, lutein, folate, potassium and other vitamins and nutrients, avocadoes fight high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, and prevent health problems such as diabetes and cancer. Incorporating avocadoes into your diet can be as simple as adding fresh slices to your salads, sandwiches, and tacos.

Clearly, the avocado has been deemed a “wonder fruit” for good reason! We’ll be covering additional natural ingredients that can have a beneficial impact on your body in future blog posts, so keep an eye out and be sure to check out our post on Natural Beauty Secrets: Coconut Oil.